Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-02-09
W4INE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
TUESDAY, Feb. Sth.


Papers from the House disposed of in con
currence.
Bill an act to repeal chap. 500 of til,
private and special laws of 1873, entitled AT
act relating to free high school in the towr
of Frenehville. passed to be engro.sed by
the Senate. came back from the House re,
committed to the Committee on Education
On motion of Mr.. Libbey of Penobscot
the Senate insisted and asked for commit.
tee of conference, and the President sp
pointed on the part of the Senate: Messrs
Libbey. Gushee of Knox aud Sargent OF
Hancock.
communication was received from the
Secretary of State transmitting the report of
the trustees of the Reform School for 1856
which was referred to the Committee on Re
form School
Mr.. Allen, from the Committee on Agri.
culture, reported ought to pass on bill an act
to regulate the weight of bushel of oats
! Printed under rule.
The same gentleman, from the Committee
on State Prison, reported ough, to pass on bill
an act establishing the salary ot the warden
of the State Prison. Printed under rule
Ga motion of Mr. Sargent of Hancock, bill
an act relating to the employment of teach
err was taken from the table and Thursday
next at 10 o'clock was assigned for its con.
/ Sideratlon.
On motion OF Mr. Gilbert of Oxford, the
majority and minority reports OF the Com
mittee Prinurg ard Binding in the matter
of the State printing were taken from the
table.
Mr. Gushee of Knox moved TO amend the
majority report which brings IN n contract
with Mes>rs. Sprague & 500, by substituting
/ therefor the minority report, which reports u
7 tl, ~ A
4 Mr. Gushee advocated his motion, claim
! ing that by the acceptance OF the contract
reported by the minority a saving of $1,000
/ for the next two years would result to the
| State and in support of this claim he called
attention 10 the details of the contracts. No
question had been raised by any OF the COM
mittee as to the ability of either party to rem
der faithful service in the execution of the
work, and it seemed to him the duty of the
legislature to avail itself of this opportunity
/ to make retrenchment
Mr. Gilbert of Oxford, As a member of the
printing committee, admitted that in some
respects the contract reported by the ma lori
ty was higher than that reported
1 by the minority, but he failed to
see how the State would be able to
save two or three thousand dollars when
the whole contract for printing is based upon
u
of the whole contract, which is between ten
and teelve thousand dollars, covers the
paper, which is furnished to the State at cost.
The committee advertised its meetings and
parties appeared before it. One party came
/ from Portland and two from Augusta. Thurs
ton & Co, of Portland, having some of the
best facilities IN the State for doing printing,
after looking the matter, over thought they
dii not care to bid as the present prices were
as low as the work could be done without
| eating down labor in their office. But al
the next meeting of the committee bids were
received from Thurston & Co., Sprague &
Son, and Plaisted & Morton, the latter
not appearing before the committee
at any time, but submitting theil
hid through the senator from KHox Mr.
Gnsheel. Thurston & Co. were the highest
and their explanation of this was that they
could do it no cheaper without reducing the
wages of their help. The senator from Knox
Mr.. Gushee had appeared IN the Legislature
as champion of the laborng man, yet he
now appeared claiming that by the contract
which he advocated saving of 20 per cent
could be made on $4,000 worth of labor, al
though as a matter of fact the difference wa,
but - or l3 per cent instead of 20. The
wages of printers were now as low as they
ought to be. but if the minority report pre-
vailed, they would of necessity go lower, suC
this was admitted on all hands. The
committee had concluded that it wat
not always in the interests of economy tC
give the printing to the lowest bidder, and il
. support Of this position cited the manner II
which the contract had been let in 1879, and
the manner in which it had been performed
The firm of Sprague & Son had faithfully
performed the work in the past, and this wa
fnr tho futurp ifb tho
Of the committee. A contract with Plaisted anC
Morton meant to printers in this city reduc
ton Of 10 or 10 per cent. and he was unabl,
to see how any man who was in favor o
keeping up the price of labor could supper
the minority report
Mr.. Gushee replied, Pssted & Morton ha,
bv their agent appeared before the commit
tee at every meeting except the first The.
stated their facilities for doing th
/ work, and that it could be done withou
delay to the legislature. With reference t
the Portland parties, he said they thought a
the first meeting they could do the work at
profit to themselves and reduction from thu
, present prices. Their subsequent cours
made their conduct appear little peculiar
He also denied that his proposition would re
suit in the reduction of the wages Of any one
it was not the purpose of Plaisted & MortoI
Calling attention to the details, he still claim
ed that the contract of the majority ranget
from II to 20 per cent higher than the minor
: itv. In view Of the many appropriation
which we're being asked, and of the condition
of the taxpayers already heavily burdened
= ne believed the policy in this matter shoult
be the same as that which prevails in tn
, management of town affairs an
the business Of the general government.
was policy in the interest of economy an
reform
Mr. Lumbert of Aroostook had no incIina
ton to pose as a reformer in this matter, bu
only to treat 1t in a plai1 business-like man
ner He did not regard the matter of reform
, as being wholly with any party or class o
people. 1t seemed that in 1879 reform -four
ished in the State. yet in that year Sl9ll2 Il
was paid for printing. The average anDua
cost from 1879 to 1886 inclusive, was, il
round number. sl4 200. One half of thi
sum was for stock which the State obtained
at cost. This had been go obtained in th'
J past, which was the best guarantee that i
would DE so in the future. The committed
considered this an important matter because
they saw that any sort OF per cent. charged
I upon the stock would amount to considerable
He would not insinuate that Piaisse 4
Morton would do any thing Of that kind, bu
the fact that Sprague & Son had not tskeT
! such an advantage inspired the committee t
|. belive they would not in the future. Wher
, one has been comfortably safe and knows hi
landmarks it is pretty safe rule, not only il